Those spacesave' spare wheels.

[seat]

My 1995 SEAT Cordoba like many other VAG vehicles of the era has a space saver spare. The narrow steel 14" rim has a 105/70R14 Michelin TEX tyre fitted with the do not exceed 50 mph/80kph warnings.

It's very obvious that the overall diameter, 503mm and rolling circumference, 1.579 m of the spacesaver is vastly less than the standard 185/60R14 tyres fitted to the regular road wheels which have a 578mm diameter and a rolling circumference of 1.815 m. That almost a 24 cm difference per wheel revolution.

I've fortunately never had to use the space saver spare, I can't imagine how it's even possible to drive with the spacesaver on one the front hubs, and would imagine a degree of 'crabbing' even fitted to the rear.

I've been fortunate to pick up a second hand set of VW 14x6 alloys and tyres and I now have one of those wheels sitting in the boot for use as a spare - probably a good thing as I've had the SEAT out to the likes of Cobar (from Sydney) recently.

Has anybody actually had the misfortune to need to use an under diameter space saver spare? What was driving on it like?

[Blitzen]

Space savers are only to be used on the rear, so if you get a flat front, you will need to swap the good rear to the front, then put the space saver on the rear of the car.

[seat]

Good point, I had thought that if I ever had to use the space saver as a result of a front wheel puncture, I'd put it on the rear and use the full size rear on the front.

[Quasyt]

Ever since I seen a space saver on a BA Mk2 XR8 ute, I've wondered what a car would look like rolling all 4 with space savers.
Might be time for an experiment.
Cambered up, tucking space saver

[Transporter]

A can of puncture sealant could help with most of the punctures. I put slime tyre repair kit in every our car, so the girls don't have to struggle with swapping the wheels.

[wai]

Yes, there are advantages with a standard spare wheel that matches the normal wheels and tyres on the car, but in the vast majority of cases spare wheels are never used, and you are carrying around a considerable weght for peace of mind.

I had a Mini (the genuine one) I had for just over 50,000 km. I had one puncture when I ran over a crate that had been dropped on the Calder Highway. I had one tyre puncture, but it was not a big issue as I was almost home and the tyre was fixed the next day.

Next was a Torana which I had for just over 350,000 km. Two punctures in the Sydney metro area. In both cases, it was a simple trip to have it fixed.

Next was a Hiace SBV which I had for around 150,000 km. No punctures, and never had to touch the spare wheel or jack. When I traded it in on my Caddy, the dealer asked about the toolkit and I told him it is still under the passenger seat as I had never had to use any of it or the spare wheel. He was amazed. The Caddy has a spacesaver spare.

The thing is that these days, punctures are rare. Thos does not mean that they do not happen, just that there is a considerable weight penalty to feel a little better.

As to what to do if you get a puncture in a front wheel? Just put the space saver on the front. The rolling diameter and offset are the same, and the speed restriction is the same no matter which wheel it is on. You can shuffle wheels around, but it will not change the speed restriction. You may understeer with it on the front, but you may oversteer with it on the rear, so have to decide which you are more comfortable with - seeing what you are about to hit, or not seeing what you are about to hit

With the number of cars now saving weight with a spacesaver spare, if punctures were so common and a problem, you would see many cars being driven with one of them being used. I have to say that I have never seen on actually fitted to a car and being driven.

[Transporter]

With the number of cars now saving weight with a spacesaver spare, if punctures were so common and a problem, you would see many cars being driven with one of them being used. I have to say that I have never seen on actually fitted to a car and being driven.

It probably depends where you live. In Adelaide most of the punctures I see is the screw or nail in and the tradesman's ute or trailer is to blame.

Yes, ...I see the spare tyres being used or were used when checking the spare tyre during the service.